Pocket PC

The Pocket PC is "a handheld device that enables you to store and retrieve e-mail, contacts, appointments, play multimedia files, games, exchange text messages with MSN Messenger, browse the Web, and more." [1] (http://www.microsoft.com/mobile/buyersguide/educateme/default.asp)

It runs on a windows operating system version for personal digital assistants (PDAs) called Windows CE, produced by Microsoft. Windows CE is the under layer of the Pocket PC OS, which currently is Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC, which runs over Windows CE.net 4.2. Past operating systems were Pocket PC 2002 (launched October 2001) and Pocket PC 2000 (launced April 2000), both running Windows CE 3.0 underneath.

Pocket PCs are manufactured and sold by several different companies, including Compaq and HP (which merged), Toshiba, ViewSonic[?] and lately Dell. In Mid-2003, Gateway and JVC announced that they too are releasing Pocket PCs. Prices in 2003 ranged from around $800 USD for the high-end models, some of which are combined with cell phones, to $200 for the Dell Axim. A $100-$200 model is rumored to be released in 1 year or less.

Before Pocket PCs were released, there were other machines made by HP and other companies, called Palm-size PCs[?]. They ran Windows CE 2.0-2.11 and had a Windows 98 interface.

Links